EFFECT OF SURFACE HETEROGENEITY ON THE ADSORPTION-KINETICS OF GASES IN ACTIVATED CARBON - PORE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION VS ENERGY-DISTRIBUTION

The effect of surface heterogeneity on the adsorption dynamics of etha ne and propane in activated carbon is studied in this article. Assumin g the micropore size distribution, from which the adsorption energy di stribution can be derived, is the sole source for system heterogeneity and the local equilibrium isotherm is described by a Langmuir equatio n, we have developed a heterogeneous pore and surface diffusion model and tested its model capability with experimental data of hydrocarbons obtained over a range of conditions. A gamma distribution is used to describe the micropore size distribution. Results of this model are co mpared with those obtained from a previously proposed model based on a uniform energy distribution.